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Lithuania's national team started the 2008 European Championship qualifying matches with a sensation - Algimantas Liubinskas' students played excellently in Naples, did not give up to the planet's champions Italy, and managed to secure a deserved draw. The Lithuanians even took the lead after Toma Danilevičius' goal, but the result was equalized by Filippo Inzaghi.
Naples' San Paolo stadium, 60,000 spectators Referee - Martin Hansson (Sweden) Italy 1 - 1 Lithuania 21' [0 - 1] Tomas Danilevičius 30' [1 - 1] Filippo Inzaghi Italy: Buffon; Grosso, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Oddo; Gattuso, Pirlo, De Rossi (61' Marchionni), Perrotta (71' Gilardino); Inzaghi (86' Di Michele), Cassano Lithuania: Karčemarskas; Džiaukštas, Skerla, Žvirgždauskas, Stankevičius; D.Česnauskis, Preikšaitis, Savėnas (65' Kalonas), Mikoliūnas (82' Tamošauskas); Poškus (79' Labukas), Danilevičius
Contrary to predictions, Naples' "San Paolo" stadium was not full, and around 60,000 fans gathered for Italy's victory in the World Cup. The match for Lithuania started with the return of Robertas Poškus after an injury, which raised doubts about his play, while Italy made one change compared to the predicted lineup - Marco Marchionni, who was initially supposed to play in attack, was replaced by a more defensive midfielder, Simone Perrotta.
The first chance unexpectedly belonged to the guests - after a pass from Saulius Mikoliūnas, the ball ended up with free David Česnauskis, but the Lithuanian's shot was completely off target. Soon after, the Italians took control of the attack, and Filippo Inzaghi scored after turning to the side, with another attempt from a distance being unsuccessful.
However, the Lithuanian national team also did not hesitate to fight back, and after a pass from Marius Stankevičius, Tomas Danilevičius had a good opportunity. His header attempt, however, was inaccurate.
Italy then took the initiative, and after a pass from Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso one-touched the ball to F. Inzaghi, but Žydrūnas Karčemarskas was the first to reach the ball. Rolandas Džiaukštas received a yellow card for a foul on S. Perrotta, then Grosso's pass-shot rebounded luckily off Marius Stankevičius' leg and away from the goalkeeper.
In the 18th minute, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Gianluigi Buffon, had to intervene after a shot from Mantas Savėnas, deflecting the ball just over the line. Tomas Žvirgždauskas caused threat to the Italian goal, but his close-range shot went high above the goal.
However, the hosts did not learn, and in the 21st minute, the Lithuanians shook the world champions after a beautiful combination - Deividas Česnauskis received the ball in the penalty area and passed it to an unmarked Tom Danilevičius, who, with a precise shot into the corner of the goal, left no chance for G. Buffon. It was the first-ever Lithuania national team goal against the Italians, and the visitors sensationally took the lead.
Even though the hosts tried to press the opponents, they created dangerous attacks, and in the 30th minute, the score became equal - S. Perrotta exchanged passes with A. Cassano, who then passed the ball to F. Inzaghi in the middle, leaving him to score from a few meters and start afresh.
It was difficult for the Lithuanian defenders to stop the very active striker Cassano, but goalkeeper Karčemarskas managed to save a shot. In the final moments of the first half, Cassano again found himself in a counterattack, but the defenders managed to eliminate the danger, and the first half ended unexpectedly with a 1-1 draw.
After the break, G. Gattuso's counterattack did not create much danger, and F. Inzaghi's header from close to the goal went wide. The Lithuanians responded with a strong long-range shot from R. Poškus, which was saved by G. Buffon. Later, A. Preikšaitis blocked a shot from S. Perrotta with his head, and soon after, the defenders managed to clear the ball from under the Italian's feet.
As the hosts continued their attacks, A. Cassano found F. Inzaghi in the penalty area, but once again, Karčemarskas made a fantastic save. A. Cassano's shot was eventually blocked by the dedicated defenders, and the Lithuanians did not just defend, but after another precise combination, R. Poškus had a shot on goal, which went straight to G. Buffon.
Knowing that they faced an away match against France, the Italians put all their efforts in the attack, and after a corner near the goal, F. Grosso shot, but in the 75th minute, F. Inzaghi had a "golden" opportunity - A. Cassano misled M. Stankevičius and tried to repeat his first goal by deflecting the ball to F. Inzaghi, but another forward, Alberto Gilardino, slightly blocked his attempt from close range.
Although the hosts failed to completely besiege their opponents, they created dangerous attacks, and in the 87th minute, Lithuania's national team was saved by Tom Tamošauskas - the substitute defender unexpectedly managed to stop A. Gilardino's header on the goal line.
The last Italian efforts to snatch a victory were in vain, and the Lithuanians tried to keep possession of the ball. In the fifth minute of added time, the hosts had one last chance, but after a penalty kick, they failed to score, and the resilient Lithuanian national team secured a historic draw against the World Champions and gained confidence for their Wednesday's match against Scotland in Kaunas.
